Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) MILAVICA

Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) 'Milavica'

A new Belarusian variety with high yield and excellent flavour.

'Milavica' (Милавица) is one of the newest and best Belarusian sour cherry varieties, registered in 2021. It is characterized by a combination of high yield, early entry into bearing, and excellent fruit flavour (rating 4.8/5). The tree has less vigorous but fast growth and is highly resistant to frost and major fungal diseases, making it a very promising and reliable variety for modern gardens.

Main advantages of the variety:

• High yield (up to 31.5 kg per tree) and early entry into bearing.
• Excellent flavour and quality of fruits (rating 4.8/5).
• High resistance to shot hole disease and moniliosis.
• High frost resistance.
• The stone separates easily from the flesh.
• Good transportability of fruits.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Belarus
• Breeders: RUE "Institute for Fruit Growing" of Belarus
• Crossing: ‘Griot Seridko’ × ‘Prizyv’
• Registration: 2021

Variety Characteristics

Tree

• Growth: Less vigorous, but fast-growing.
• Crown: Globular, medium density.
• Pollination: It is partially self-fertile; requires a pollinator for high yields.

Fruit

• Size and weight: Medium-sized, with an average weight of 4.5 g.
• Shape and colour: Round, deep dark red.
• Flesh and juice: The flesh is red, tender, and juicy. The juice is deep red.
• Flavour: Pleasant, tart-sweet (rating 4.8/5).
• Stone: Small, easily separable from the flesh.
• Use: Versatile (fresh consumption, processing).

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost resistance: High.
• Disease resistance: High resistance to shot hole disease and moniliosis.
• Requirements: Requires a sunny location and lighter, fertile soils.

Cultivation Recommendations

• To ensure a high yield, it is essential to plant another sour cherry variety nearby as a pollinator.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Mid-early (second decade of July).
• Yield: High (14.3 – 21 t/ha).
• Entry into bearing: Early, 3rd year after planting.
• Transportability: Good.